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Agroforum 2013 March

Following the March winds(Dr. László Bódis)

TOPIC OF THE MONTH

An overview of Hungarian agriculture(Ferenc Szépe)
The author summarises the data on agricultural exports, imports and the performance of crop production recorded in the past year, and presents the most important changes taken place in the field of subsidies and measures affecting the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the article outlines the preferential credit programmes and the new scheme of direct subsidies.

FOCUSING ON POTATOES

The seventeenth Forum of the Potato Sector(Dr. László Bódis)
It was the seventeenth time on 17 January that Keszthely hosted the annual event of the potato sector. The lectures delivered on the meeting focused on two topics: “Potato growing in dry years” and “Economic relations of utilizing water and nutrients”. We give an account of these presentations in this report.

The potato sector in Europe and Hungary(Gábor Kecskés)
The author from the National Potato Marketing Board and presents the European situation in the potato sector, the cropping areas and production volumes of the major potato growing countries. The article contains the key data on Hungarian potato growing and makes recommendations for the future to enhance successful production.

The profitability of potato growing(András Szentirmay)
In the product chain, along which potatoes get from the grower to the user and/or consumer, by all means, growers are the most exposed to adverse fluctuations, as they can have an effective influence on the prices only if there is a demand for their commodity. A grower may have a single reaction to this, if he can ensure a continuous supply of the crop in high quality and quantity. What is needed to do this? How much does it cost for a grower to produce potatoes? How can a grower achieve the cost-efficiency of potato production? This article wishes to answer these questions.

Water and nutrient use of potatoes(Dr. Zsolt Polgár, Dr. Károly Pocsai)
The article outlines the results of several-year-long trials carried out by Solum Zrt. to study the efficacy of using water and nutrients, as well as the distribution of tuber sizes of the particular potato varieties in function of the irrigation regime.

Increasing yields of early potatoes with granulated poultry manure pellet(Zoltán Fülei, Dr. Zoltán Pap)
The new generation organic manure pellets may revolutionize fertilizer application. This can make thinking and acting all those who wish to produce high quality vegetables beneficial to our health. In connection with this topic, readers may get acquainted with the techniques of applying poultry manure pellet suitable for producing quality early potatoes.

Seed potato growing in Hungary(Dr. László Gergely, Kristóf Szabó)
There is no other crop where the quality of the propagation material would influence the success of growing so much as it is in the case of potatoes. This is why it is worth giving an overview of the seed potato growing areas recorded in the past few years and detailing surface data for producing the seed potatoes of Hungarian and foreign varieties.

Potato growing and the diseases affecting it(Ágnes Kun)
The article gives a situation analysis of Hungarian potato growing in the light of last year’s production data for the Southern Transdanubian region. It presents the most important requirements for cultural operations needed for successful growing, the major bacterial and fungal diseases and the methods of their control.

Everything about us (x)This is the brief set of news from Dow AgroSciences.

40 years in the leading edge. Talking with general director Géza Búvár(Dr. László Bódis, Dr. György Demes)
KITE Zrt., one of the market leading agricultural companies in Hungary, has been continuously developing since its establishment 40 years ago. KITE Zrt conspicuously left behind the companies that started business at the same time, setting similar goals, at least the enterprises remaining in the competition. We asked Géza Búvár the general manager of KITE about the secrets of 40 years’ success story and future plans and ideas.

A new deputy president at the National Food Chain Safety Office(AF)
Our old acquaintance, the regular author of our journal, József Lukács has been designated to a high position in NÉBIH from this year.

Santana 1 G – Over the third year (4) User’s manual – let’s talk about application (x)(Ferenc Somos)
The author from Arysta Hungary Kft. indicates the key points that is worth listening to when applying soil insecticide Santana 1 G.

Intensive maize growing preparing for extreme conditions(István Kiss, László Kiss)
The authors undertake to present the crop management programme covering all the important requirements of maize that can be met in a cost-efficient way.

The new, enhanced Monsoon has arrived (x)(István Rikk)
Get to know the post emergence herbicide from Bayer CropScience for using in maize with a really long-term effect.

Portrait “You can make a living also in agriculture …” Talking with growers István Kiss and László Kiss”(Dr. László Bódis)
This month we present the portrait of the growers István Kiss and László Kiss who won the third prize in the competition launched in June 2012.

Sunflowers in critical plant health conditions? (x)(Tivadar Mathiász)
Have a look at the plant protection programme offered by Kwizda Agro Kft. to base high crop quality and save the produced quantity.

Timely thoughts for sunflower protection (x)(Dr. Domonkos Lukács)
The fungicide ZAMIR from Makhteshim Agan Hungary Zrt. provides appropriate protection against the stem diseases of sunflowers and supports the success of protecting the crop to control the subsequent head diseases on a long run.

The performance of sunflower varieties in experiments – 2012. Chemical compounds(Gábor Szekrényes)
The article gives an overview of the results for 2012 of small plot trials, comparing the particular ripening groups and the special agronomic and quality traits of sunflower hybrids declared for inclusion in the national list of varieties.

Without frontiers. Report from the farmers’ forum organised in Nagyvárad(ös, bl)
In the previous number of the journal we gave an account of the initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development, targeting on the closer cooperation with the Hungarians over the border by involving the farmers’ associations, educational institutions and various social and civil organisations operating there. This time we visited the Farmers’ Forum jointly organised by Partium Christian University and Debrecen University.

Farming course (12) Drilling and calculations related to drilling(József Kovács)
This part of the series informs on the various methods of sowing and the calculation of the necessary quantity of seeds, as well as on the key factors determining the success of sowing.

About a machine exposition in another way. Report(Miklós Kurucz)
AGROmashEXPO and Agrimachine Show 2013 were successful from various aspects. In terms of hosting, it is reflected the increasing number of exhibitors, display area and the number of visitors. The professionals might be satisfied as they could get acquainted with several excellent machines and select from the information providing services.

With reliable products against weeds (x)(A. Gy.)
DuPont shares experience based on its weed control programme in cereals.

You cannot make a good brandy from poor quality fruits. Report(Dezső Kőhalmi)
We asked Béla Dienes, retired excise office lieutenant-colonel, the leader of Helvécia Product Kft. producing four kinds of brandy aged in wooden barrels about the secrets of making brandy.

Zantara – a fungicide and plant conditioner from Bayer (x)(László Farády)
Get to know Bayer’s cereal fungicide and plant conditioner with special formulation and containing two active substances.

A person creating a new school of thought… Report(Dr. István Oláh)
The article reports on the scientific session organised in Martonvásár on the occasion of the 85th birthday of Béla Győrffy.

Reporting from a Syngenta meeting to launch the season(Attila Kosztolányi)
Syngenta launched the season of 2013 with the traditional road show in January. The events held at seven locations of the country, i.e. Orosháza, Hajdúszoboszló, Mezőkövesd, Szombathely, Kaposvár, Kakasd and Székesfehérvár focused on the evaluation of year 2012 and the challenges in crop production foreseen for the season of 2013, as well as on the new products and recommendations of Syngenta.

With new products, enlarged staff number and strengthening marketing. Report(Gabriella Demes)
Arysta LifeScience Hungary Kft. invited its trading partners for a technical meeting to Danubius Grand Hotel in the Margaret Island on 24 January 2013. The event began with the welcome speech of Ferenc Somos, the county representative and marketing manager of Arysta Csongrád, followed with the new product offer outlined by Krisztina Spilák, developing engineer, finally the managing director Sándor Herpai provided information about Arysta’s achievements and the changes taken place in the team.

Good soybeans for growers (x)(Attila Galankó)
Growing soya bean varieties included in the joint offer of Saatbau Linz Hungary Kft. and Lajtamag Kft. may prove to be a good decision also in 2013.

Small garden all year round. Jobs March(Franciska Tóth Bogdányi)
March frequently starts with frost and snow but the careful gardener does more and more jobs in the small garden in spring with the mild weather arriving sometimes slowly, other times more swiftly.

Our partner’s success is our success, too! (x)Get to know the new pesticide offer from Sharda for application in spring.

Manage rightly. With my own property?(Dr. Zoltán Mucsányi, Dr. Attila Ótós)
This month we present, without detailing the procedure, the study of a case that can be considered an example of various deficiencies together. The article reveals the conditions when the company leader is responsible for the debts of a limited company with own property.

Cheyenne 1 G – Growers’ opinion …(x)(Ádám Farkas)This year the range of soil insecticides containing clothianidinhas been increased with a new product of Nufarm Hungary Kft.

PRODUCE MARKET

Summary of the produce market(Ildikó Edit Tikász, Edina Varga)
You may have an overview of the processes taken place on the global produce markets of the major field crop (wheat, maize, sunflowers and rapes) prices and crop volumes are summed up.

Cargill is a major sponsor of the programme “Plant it yourself!” (x)Cargill Hungary Zrt. announced that it provided financial support to the training programme “Plant it yourself!” launched by the Hungarian Association of Young Farmers (AGRYA).

BIOTECHNOLOGY

“Let’s learn gene technology” (32)The fields and strategies of “Transgenic plant protection”(Dr. László Heszky)
The total area of transgenic (GM) crops reached 160 million hectares in 2011, accounting for almost 10% of the global cropping area. On the whole surface of transgenic crops, the majority of the grown GM varieties are resistant to pests and tolerant to herbicides. This is why the VIth chapter deals with the new field of transgenic plant protection.

VEGETABLE GROWING

Fertilizer application to root vegetables and certain developmental disorders related to nutrient supply(Dr. István Terbe)
In addition to medium and poor yields, there are various complaints for quality problems of root vegetables that can be attributed partly to unprofessional soil cultivation and improper nutrient supply. The fertilizer prices, quite high compared to purchase prices call for a reasonable fertilizer application. This is why we believe it is worth putting the nutrient demand of root vegetables under the magnifying glass. Furthermore, the developmental disorders related to nutrient supply and the criteria of splitting fertilizer rates also need to be examined.

The effect of the colour of foil covering the soil to the performance of early planted, grafted water melon(Ákos Lipták-Galló)
Water melon is still an important export commodity for Hungary, though this position is continuously weakening. We can keep our competitiveness only by applying an intensive crop management programme and upgrading it. This article presents the results of a grower’s trial targeted to examine the effect of violet, green and blue soil cover plastic foils on the early replanted water melon plants grafted on squash rootstock.

FRUIT GROWING

Pear pests and the options of their control(Dr. Adrienne Gyulai Garai)
The author gives an account of the susceptibility of the commercial varieties to the major pear pests based on literature data and own observations, illustrating the signs of their damages with several excellent images. The paper provides an overview of the efficient methods suitable to control the pear pests and diseases causing the most severe problems, as well as the complete crop protection programme of pears tailored to the particular phonological stages.

Apple varieties grown in Hungary and the trends of changing (1)(Dr. István Gonda, Imre Fülep)
The wide range of apple varieties used during the decade of the social change, similarly to that of rootstocks, has narrowed by now. Five varieties or variety groups have become dominant in the new plantations. The authors analyse their appearance and chemical composition, as well as their market prospects.

Book review. Precision apple management programme. Edited by: Dr. István Gonda(Dr. József Nyéki)
The book highlights the current Hungarian apple production, the questions most frequently asked by growers, as well as the solved and unsolved problems. It also draws the attention to various contradictions that positively or negatively influence the success of production.

New apple varieties resistant to insect pests?(Dr. László Szalay)
The October 2012 number of the American journal “Good Fruit Grower” gave an account of apple varieties found by the researchers of Washington State University. They are less attractive than the standard varieties for codling moth and one of the leaf rolling moths widely spread in America. The article discusses the background of this news, presenting the recent American research result as a remarkable step towards the planting of organic orchards with apple varieties resistant to all major pests, not needing chemical plant protection.

VINE GROWING AND WINEMAKING

Excellent protection of berries! Dynali® (x)(Éva Nádudvari, Zoltán Varga)
Get to know the new fungicide from Syngenta for using in vineyards after flowering to provide complete bunch and canopy protection.

The kinds of our grapevine varieties in the first decade of the third millennium (4) Share of varieties evaluated for wine regions and ripening time(Dr. András Lőrincz, Dr. István Fazekas, Dr. Gábor Zanathy)
The fourth part of the series covers two issues: the share of red and white wine varieties in the particular wine regions and the discussion of the varieties according to their ripening times.

Ecological methods and their role in up-to-date, environmentally friendly vine growing (1) Report(Zsuzsa Györök)
Biocont Hungary Kft. has addressed vine growers interested in ecology, this time they were invited to Lajosmizse. Ecological grapevine growing has more and more followers in Hungary, confirmed also by the continuous increase of organic grape areas as well. The current article lets us have an insight into the lectures delivered on the 5th Biocont training.

MECHANISATION, MACHINES

Let’s learn about harvesters (33.) Robots in the orchard(Dr. László Bense, István Nagy)
Robots fighting or working instead of human beings have become a part of our everyday life through films. This triggers the question whether we could make a fruit-picking robot. This article undertakes to sum up the requirements for a harvesting robot and to discuss how we can meet them at the current technical level. It is due time be aware that droids are with us also in orchards.

Axiál “Machines in abundance” over 3000 square metres(Dr. György Demes)
Axiál Kft. displayed its offer for 90 machines, among them various high-tech machines, machine connections and implements in the biggest pavilion of the 31st AGROmashEXPO and the 3rd Agrimachine Show on 3,000 square meters. The company was present on the exposition advertised under the slogan ”Machines in abundance” not only with its machines in trade and services, but also with a whole range of satellite events.

What should a drill know? (x)If there are several drills suitable for precision sowing why do more and more people choose Horsch Pronto drill?

LOOKOUT

Global grain market and the future of CAP, their relations(Dr. Norbert Somogyi)
The press agency Agence Fargo-RDN organised a meeting with the representatives of Agritel, dealing with advising and market analysis. The company provided information on cereal market prospects and the future of CAP as they see, in function of the market of agricultural machines.

Outstanding persons of our agricultural past. Gyula András Hagyó-Kovács (1888-1960)(Miklós Kurucz)
This month readers may get acquainted with the life and work of Gyula András Hagyó-Kovács in the frame of our series presenting the great persons contributing to agricultural development in Hungary.

Note for farmers. About the Traditions – Tastes – Regions (TTR) program(Miklós Kurucz)
This note gives an overview of the programme Traditions – Tastes – Regions (in Hungarian H.Í.R.) reflecting the traditions of the Hungarian nation and the values of the countryside.